New education centre
19 June 2002
To mark its 25th anniversary this year, the Museum of London launched an ambitious redevelopment programme to extend its building on London Wall and reach out to new audiences across the UK.
Today’s announcement of funding by the Clore Duffield Foundation will significantly enhance current plans by providing an essential new space at the heart of the development - the Clore Education Centre.
Coinciding with the announcement of the appointment of Mr Jack Lohman as the Museum of London's new Director, the unveiling of plans for the Centre marks an exciting new phase in the Museum’s history.
Mr Rupert Hambro, Chairman of the Board of Governors at the Museum of London, said “We are delighted to be able to unveil plans for a new Clore Education Centre in the same week as we announce details of our new Director.
The Museum is extremely grateful to Dame Vivien Duffield and the trustees of the Clore Duffield Foundation for the generous donation that has made this possible, and we are looking forward to joining the other national organisations that have benefited so much from her wide-reaching support of arts education”.
Britain’s first modernist museum, the Museum of London was at the forefront of contemporary design when it opened in 1976. It now stands as the largest social history collection in the world, having increased its collections by over 50% in the last 25 years.
The Clore Education Centre will enable more people to benefit from the Museum’s expertise by offering a better learning experience to visitors of all ages and backgrounds. In particular, the Centre will allow more than three times the 10,000 school children currently using the Museum’s education facilities to have hands on experiences of the collections as part of their visit.
The Museum of London was the first national museum to appoint a full-time Education Officer, and since that time its education programme has been widely praised. Innovative ideas that have placed it at the forefront of museum education include the Roman Boxes pilot scheme, taking original Roman material into London’s primary schools, and last summer’s The Dig, an interactive exhibition and simulated archaeological dig for families.
Linking Lives, its most recent initiative, has brought employees from City companies together with schools and community groups across London in a range of exciting projects and activities.
Editor's notes:
Museum of London redevelopment plans
Beginning with the opening of the new World City galleries in December 2001, and concluding with the launch of a new 20th century gallery in 2006, the Museum of London is currently undergoing a major redevelopment programme that will ensure it retains its position as an ambassador of innovation and creativity well into the 21st century.
A £33 million redevelopment of the Museum’s building on London Wall will incorporate a 70% increase in gallery space, a glazed central court for school and community events, a bold new entrance at street level by Foster and Partners and a radical remodelling of the interior spaces.
For the first time, a new Linking Lives initiative will enable City businesses to work alongside the world’s largest urban history museum in developing inspirational and far reaching community projects and events.
On 7 December 2001, the Museum opened World City – the first and largest of its new galleries – to be followed in October 2002 by the launch of a pre-historic gallery London Before London.
Following on from its birthday party celebrations on 2 December 2001, a monthly programme of high profile events, ranging from a Medieval siege to a 1950s street party, continues to mark the Museum’s silver anniversary year.
Further information:
Judith Holmes: 020 7814 5502
Mairi Allan: 020 7814 5511